A symposium held to look at the future of regional rail has called upon state, commonwealth and local governments to seriously examine options to lift the threat of collapse from the regional rail system.

New research that will help us better understand the movements of birds and help evaluate the risk of susceptible species such as waterfowl bringing diseases such as avian influenza into the country is underway.

A Canadian rail expert will speak at a seminar in Blayney on Friday 10 May about the potential for the redevelopment of freight railways in regional areas and how interstate and overseas railways have been revived for national and local benefit.

Ground water and surface water in the Murray Darling Basin need to be managed as a single resource for us to go forward in solving the current water crisis in the Basin according to one of Australia’s leading water scientists.

Mr Howard’s $10 billion National Plan for Water Security is missing two essential ingredients – details on how public participation will be achieved, and an environmental perspective, according to a Charles Sturt University professor.

The Prime Minister’s $10 billion National Water Reform Plan for the Murray Darling Basin could double the price of water recovery projects according to Water for Rivers CEO Neville Smith.

A major water conference that will look at the challenge of managing our streams and rivers for the future will be held in Albury, May 21 to 25.

Annual stream flow into the Murray-Darling Basin is likely to fall by 10 to 25% by 2050, and by 16 to 48% by 2100 according to one of Australia’s leading experts on the effects of climate change on our river systems.

A recent visit to the remote, uninhabited Kiska Island in the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia was “beyond imagination” according to a Charles Sturt University archaeologist and historian.